Hi folks,
Well, here it is, the Eichelbaum Grand Concert koa/cedar review
I promised. After thinking a bunch about this, I figured the
best thing to do is simply requote the email I sent David a
week or so back. So, here it goes:
'...Thanks for the CD--got it a week or so ago. Even better
yet, thanks for a beautiful guitar. I've had the Grand Concert
koa/cedar from Robin at Guitar Gallery for a couple weeks now,
and I am really enjoying it. To date, it is the easiest playing
guitar I have ever owned, and I've had some nice ones. The
generous nut width and string spacing really works well for me.
It took a few days to properly acclimate after it wwas shipped,
but now the action is perfect. Interestingly, upon receiving
the guitar at my home in RI, I got a bit bummed because though
I loved the workmanship, playability, and looks of the guitar,
I thought it sounded too bright, airy and thin on the higher
strings for my taste. Robin suggested I keep it another few
days, install Elixir strings (my favorites--naturally less
bright sounding than many others), and see how I felt after
that. Well, the rest is history, and I am so pleased!'
'The guitar is definitely brighter than my Olson koa/spruce
which I may be looking to replace due to its value, but it
still has the mellowish resonating, koa, woody tone I love so
much. Additionally it has all that controllably articulate high
end to bring out the treble lines cutting through the bass
rhythm as much or as little as I want. My only way of
describing it right now is that it's a lovely sounding guitar,
highly articulate, and incredibly responsive to the touch.
Today I played at a nursing home in a fairly dead sounding,
carpeted chapel room with about 25-30 residents. I played both
solos (fingerstyle playing) and led singing (no amplification),
and the guitar just allowed me to play it as hard or soft as
needed. I was confident that even w/out amplification folks in
the back were still hearing the notes (even the softer played
ones). It really helped my focus not having to worry about
whether or not the guitar was loud enough--I loved it (oh, and
I think they did too based on their remarks afterwards)!!!'
' I never thought koa and cedar would be a good match based on
my very positive previous experience with many koa/spruce
guitars, but I am clearly ignorant of some of the great newer
wood combinations you fine luthiers are coming up with today.
Thanks again for this great addition to my collection. I'm sure
it will see much use both in recording and performance.'
That basically sums it up folks--the Eichelbaum koa/cedar is an
extreme pleasure to play and and joy to listen to while those
notes just resonate around in the soundbox. BTW, point of
interest--of the 6 or 7 Tonewoods Quiz responders that selected
a favorite track as part of the exersize, the Eichelbaum
(guitar sample #1) was selected 5 of those times. Very
interesting considering the other great guitars sampled as
well. Our hats off to you David Eichelbaum, keep up the good
work!
Ken T.
Graceworks Music
P.S. Oh, and here are some pics of this beauty...
